Belonging and boundaries

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Belonging and boundaries

Icebreaker

What brought you here today: Beyond the logistics, what was the specific moment or feeling this week that made you decide to show up to a group of strangers today?

Exploring Belonging
Belonging is often about the tension between being ourselves and being part of a group.

Fitting in versus belonging: Can you share a time when you felt you had to change a part of yourself to "fit in," versus a time you felt you truly "belonged" just as you were?
The newcomer experience: Describe a time you were the "outsider" or the newcomer. What was one small thing someone did that made you feel suddenly welcome?
The geometry of home: When you think of the word "home," is it a physical place, a specific person, or a feeling? What is a story that illustrates that for you?

Defining boundaries
Boundaries are the "invisible borders" that allow healthy belonging to exist.

The "no" that was a "yes": Tell a story about a time you said "no" to someone else so that you could say "yes" to your own needs. How did it feel in your body afterward?
Learned boundaries: Growing up, how were boundaries modeled in your family? Were they seen as "walls" to keep people out, or "gates" to let the right things in?
The turning point: Can you share a moment when a boundary was crossed, and it changed the way you view a relationship or your own self-worth?

Synthesis and learnings
Close by looking for the wisdom gained from these experiences.

The advice to your younger self: If you could go back to a version of yourself that felt lonely or overwhelmed, what is one "rule for living" regarding belonging or boundaries you would give them?
The role model: Who is someone in your life (or even a fictional character) who models "healthy belonging" or "firm boundaries" in a way you admire?
The takeaway: What is one thing someone else in this small group said today that shifted your perspective or made you feel less alone?